The 13th-year quarterback pieced together three time-consuming drives that led to field goals of 40, 54 and 33 yards by Pro Bowl kicker Rob Bironas for a 16-10 victory in the final regular-season game at the RCA Dome.

"Savor it" was Collins' advice to his younger teammates. "I remember when I went to the playoffs my second year, and I thought we're going to the playoffs every year. It doesn't happen that way."

Collins finished 10-for-13 for 106 yards. Young was having one of his most accurate games, going 14-for-18 for 157 yards, but his status for the Titans' wild-card playoff game next Sunday at the San Diego Chargers is unknown. "I can't answer that question for you right now," Young said. "I got to wait until I go see the doc. Wednesday, I'll have a great answer for you."

San Diego beat Tennessee 23-17 in overtime Dec. 9 in Nashville in a game the Titans dominated for three quarters and led by 14 points. Afterward, several Chargers alleged the Titans had inflicted cheap hits, particularly on a play that sidelined linebacker Shawne Merriman with a knee injury.

"There's no love lost," Titans linebacker and defensive captain Keith Bulluck said of the approaching matchup.

With Indianapolis' No. 2 seed in the playoffs already secured, Peyton Manning quarterbacked only the first two series. That was long enough to get the 55 passing yards he needed to reach 4,000 in a season for the record eighth time in his career.

Manning went 14-for-16 and peppered Reggie Wayne with 10 of those completions, helping the Colts wide receiver to his first-1,500-yard season.

Jim Sorgi took over at quarterback for the Colts (13-3), but Manning continued to play a role. He spent most of the rest of the game wearing headphones and calling plays from the sideline. Initially, he appeared to consult often with Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore, but late in the game he seemed to be on his own, in a figurative NFL coaching debut.

Coming into the game, Sorgi had thrown only 102 passes while appearing in 13 games in his four-year career. But he did complete a 3-yard touchdown throw to third-string receiver Craphonso Thorpe for a 10-7 Indianapolis lead, just before Young's injury.

The victory was Collins' second of the year, and both were crucial to Tennessee's playoff aspirations. He preserved a Titans victory Oct. 21 at the Houston Texans with a late-game scoring drive.

The Titans ended up edging the Cleveland Browns for the second AFC wild-card spot. Both teams finished 10-6, and the tiebreaker that decided the playoff berth was their record against common opponents, where Tennessee was one game better.

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Kerry Collins filled in for the injured Vince Young in the third quarter, guiding the Titans on three drives that led to field goals.

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